Essence

Desertification is the land degradation of sub-humid, semi-arid and arid land resulting from a number of unsustainable human activities. Desertification affects soil structure, its ability to function, the native flora and fauna and as such the ecological, biochemical and hydrological cycle within these regions. This project explores widespread devastation and urgency of desertification on a global scale as well as its impact on a small-scale rural community within Sudan’s Sahelian zone. These drylands which cover more than 40 percent of all land is home to 35 percent of the global population, 90 percent of which live within developing countries. Desertification currently affects 300 million people. This project addresses the issues within current Sudanese legislation which have hindered progress, as well as the importance and implementation of technology, education, agricultural solutions and community participation in implementing a sustainable solution which can reclaim desertified lands, whilst considers the social responsibility of architects in aiding the socially disenfranchised and the potential architecture provides in creating meaningful change to social issues.

Essence is a community relief centre situated within the town of Kabushiya, Sudan. The centre incorporates agricultural solutions to combat desertification, reclaim desertified lands, as well as psychological solutions that empower the traumatised community to heal. Employing vernacular architecture Essence utilises the skills, labour and resources of the local community and involves them in the construction process to create an environmentally and socially sustainable centre.

This conclusion was arrived at through researching the climate issue, reviewing statistics and geographical data, researching vernacular architecture, water conservation, agriculture, psychology, modelling and drawing from my own culture, as well as utilizing cognitive mapping to connect this information. Other methodological approaches include the creation of a persona to determine and understand the users, site analysis, prototyping water conservation techniques and modelling.

Technical Drawings

“The social responsibility of architects lies in part in believing that architecture can create better places, that architecture can affect society, and that it can even have a role in making a place civilized by making a community more liveable.”

Helena L. Jubany

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Journey Diagram

Artefact

Crutile pieces are colourful doilies South Sudanese women use to decorate their homes. Crutile is a practice which has been passed on from several generations; personally, within my Chollo Australian community, I cannot name an aunt or elder who cannot crotchet. Crutile is a process where a group of women gather; an individual creates a segment of the doily and then passes on the doily to the next individual to create their specialised pattern. This collaborative eff ort not only results in a unique carefully crafted piece, but also in a number of social and psychological benefits. This process unifies women of all ages and clans, enabling them to socialise and relate. Cochet and knitting has a number of psychological benefits due to its repetitive and rhythmic motions. Dr Barry Jacobs of Princetown University discovered that “animals who perform repetitive motions trigger a release of serotonin, the neurotransmitter associated with calmness and well-being.” These rhythmic motions are key in relaxation; physiotherapist Betsan Corkhill whilst studying the effects of knitting on patients with depression, discovered that patients who lacked motivation and were stressed were able to self soothe whilst knitting and reduce feelings of anxiousness.